Quinones are redox molecules widely present in nature. Coenzyme Q is a subsituted benzoquinone having a polyprenyl chain in the 6-position (decaprenyl- in humans). It is a hydrophobic molecule imbedded in the lipid bilayer of mitochondria and other membranes; in mitochondria it is a component of the electron transfer chain and of the oxidative phosphorylation systems. In plant chloroplasts the function of Coenzyme Q is exploited by plastoquinone. Coenzyme Q in its reduced form is a potent antioxidant present in several membrane systems. Coenzyme Q is synthetized by animals starting from tyrosine; the isoprenoid side chain is synthetized through the mevalonate pathway. Among biological naphthoquinones are menaquinone, used for electron transfer in many bacteria, and Vitamin K, involved in the process of blood coagulation.

Quinones

LENAZ, GIORGIO;GENOVA, MARIA LUISA
2004

Abstract

Quinones are redox molecules widely present in nature. Coenzyme Q is a subsituted benzoquinone having a polyprenyl chain in the 6-position (decaprenyl- in humans). It is a hydrophobic molecule imbedded in the lipid bilayer of mitochondria and other membranes; in mitochondria it is a component of the electron transfer chain and of the oxidative phosphorylation systems. In plant chloroplasts the function of Coenzyme Q is exploited by plastoquinone. Coenzyme Q in its reduced form is a potent antioxidant present in several membrane systems. Coenzyme Q is synthetized by animals starting from tyrosine; the isoprenoid side chain is synthetized through the mevalonate pathway. Among biological naphthoquinones are menaquinone, used for electron transfer in many bacteria, and Vitamin K, involved in the process of blood coagulation.
2004
Encyclopedia of Biological Chemistry Vol 3
621
627
Lenaz G.; Genova M.L.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/7055
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